Medical examination, operating, and x-ray table



March 25, 1958 R. L. M DONALD MEDICAL EXAMINATION, OPERATING AND X-RAY TABLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 26, 1956 INVENTOR. ROBERT L. MDONALD if; MK

ATTORNEY March '25, 1958 R. L. MCDONALD MEDICAL EXAMINATION, OPERATING AND X-RAY TABLE 5 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Dec.

March 25, 1958 R. L. MQDONALD 2,328,172

' MEDICAL EXAMINATION, OPERATING AND X-RAY TABLE Filed Dec. 2a, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet s A TTDRNEY United States Patent MEDICAL EXAMINATION, OPERATING, X RAY TABLE 2,828,172 Patented Mar. 25, 1958 ar-s ew n -r v; a ler y n en o sh w athe .2 b e-3 h r zont l po i and howin n defied. lines.

Robert L,McDonald,.Rochester;N Y-, assignor torRitten rt pa ynln -a h r; aN- a e porat on o Delaware Application December 26;"1956; Seri al No: 6303491 11 Claims. (Cl.,311?16) to the-:end-that maximum convenience of the urologists is secured in shifting the patients into -var-ious positions for. radiography, pyelography and urological: examination while maintaining utmost support and comfort for the patient; 7

Another" object of my-invention is topro vide a hydrau-.. lic ally kontrolled and-operating table wherein-the table may be-shiftedfrom ahorizontal position inwhich--position various diagnostic examinations 'maybe performed onapatientsupportedmn the table; to a 'positioir 'approachingih'e vertical; the approved position for securing pyeloureterograms; WlthOllt the necessity-of the urologist; fiifst-raising-the table "to an elevated position-before it; can be tiltedto raise the patient ,to the essentially upright; position;---

Still-*a'nothenobject of,my invention is to provide a table; particularly-for use-by'urologists, in which a me; chanical set of linkages raise (the table at the same time that" it' is hydraulically tilted from ;the horizontal to. an essentially vertical position whereby when,the table is in the horizontal position it is'sufiiciently lowgtouenablefthe urologist; to perform;his ,work'withLmaxirnurn comfort. whi'le'ls'eated and when the tableis shiftedto the essentially vertical position the'leg sections of the table'do not. strike the floor; v

Ibisa'lsoian object of my invention to provide'means which automatically "causes operation of the hydraulic mechanism to .cause a'lowering of the tableifitjs being tilted to a position approaching the vertical fromran ele-:,

vated horizontal position. lthasgbeen'found that when the table is at, a. raised elevationand is tilted to the essentially vertical positionit becomes, top heavy and it'is.nec-. essary to' lower.;the.table to ther'eby lower the center of gravity thereof;

A .further object of my invention is to provide such automatically 'oper able means .for lowering the ,tablea certain amount under certain conditions whenthe table is beingjtilted whichmeans is not operable when the table is tilted from a position which is notsufiiciently elevated to .cause the table .tobe top-heavy. The high1y advan' Figijl .is aside. elevation of the medical examinali i l'i the-,table -in an elevated position; 1

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l with the foot rest,

and le'g support-sections extended andtw ith the ;table-,-in

Posi io h dotted .l n sil st sa -r. nset he. table, tzwh h. pO t Qn. itf pthQQX/ii 3 SshQIi nta irie wzp tlv n e io sh w nap rt oft-the foot-p als ntr lhqusin andth :fwmed l f r: tro l n thmhyd ulia;circuits;

.z erticabse tiq al;;vie qmew a d rams matic,-. taken through trifle. ho sinaziw h en lq ese-the; motonep ump randrpartaof. t e; c ntrols-andhydraulic ft c itsefor tthetexaminationa nd ope at ng; le of: m inventionl; a

The; tablerofmy .invention, while ofv more general; use; hasi-been more .particpl'arly designed for use. by uro'logis-ts as. a combinedrexamination-,.= operating and, X-ray table The 'examination; operating and X' ray. tableof. my-invem tion comprises anelectrie flTlOtOInll, .a housing 12;.which; encloses suitable g-hydraulic mechanism, a table assembly-1 generallyindicated by the: numeral. 13, .togetherowith ,a novel -arrangement of. linkage,- .generally indicated by the. numeral=I4,=between-thetable assembly 13 and the. piston;

hydraulic lift cylinder 16-of the hydraulic mechanism, the

purpose of which will later-appear.

The-;table=13 maybe generallysimilar to thatsshownin rhyme-pending application Serial No.- 383,518 :filed October 1, 19 53 andentitled,'- MedicalExaminationg: Operating and -X-ray Table} and-the table comprises. a frame 17; whieh isessentially rectangularin sectionbandl- U-shaped in plan; --As described in the aforemention'edi patent application the table '13 maybe formedwith' a: flat sheet forming a tablessurfaee which -is supported 'inthe frame 17;--and this tableisurfacemaybe formed of anysuitable material; which is pervious to X-ray-ra d iation such as Bakelite.

The transverse cross piece forming thehead'end of. the frame 17 has secured tortheundei sidethereof a U -s haped bracket 18'which extends beneath the table frame and constitutes part offa rigid frame 'forthe support;ofthe: table surfaceframing above described. V i i The right hand end of the frame 17 -(as-viewed in Fig 1) is supported by a transversebar 19 which is attachedto.two fiarturesll, one oneach side of the table. The

fixtures 21 'are,mounte,d 'on and secured totWo-longitu are slidableon the-bars 22 to position as illustratedin';

Fig. l .of the drawings-extended beyond'the'ends ofgthe r 220: t e r ctedrpe tiqn. beneath h ta e nv t le vsl lesuppe or. the barszrit m y b P 'QY dS l h s hear a raea illusttate and.des ri e -in, my. aforementioned co-pending application Serial] No, 3 ,5 3,. andnther warfd. ndsef th bars.2.4. ..re .uPQ

dslidaw .respect to apairoi.lug gesecured to the under. ides-cf: i'th nha srll-w Thes i e a .2 ..h.a ,e pi o d h retqa own a 27. p rallelmottqa l n srz w ha r vot ys nn fl r as mm 9. tea. f ot a dlea r t. as emblveeneral l indi ted by. th nume alfilt ...t ,t ande te emblyfil. e pris s. a n l f sideba s .32 con t t t at r m ac oss.wh hisheetai l rests for the calves of theflegs extend, The sheet metal. leg re sts are recessed below tl-ie topv edges of theisidej bars $2 so theta. foot rest 33., maybe, shifted around a; pivot 34 to the dotted line position shown at 36.) :In this; position. the toot rest 33 lies wholly .belowthegtop edges of the side bars 32. The foot rest is provided with angularly extending parts 37 having stop pins 38 to limit the foot rest 33 tothe substantially right angle position with respect to the side bars 32 shown in Fig. 1. The parallel motion links are provided with stops 39 to limit the move ment of the side bars 32 to the parallel relationship with respect to the slide bars 24.

It will now be apparent from a comparison of Figs. 1 and 2 that when the table is in the horizontal position shown in Fig. 1 the slide bars 24, together with the foot and leg rest assembly 31 are hidden beneath and substantially enclosed by the table 13 and its associated parts. However, as will presently appear, the table may be tilted as shown in Fig. 2 to substantially a vertical position. Prior to tilting the table the slide bars 24 are pulled outwardly and the parts of the foot and leg rest assembly 31 shifted to the positions disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2. In this position of the table the patient stands on the foot rest 33 with his back and shoulders resting or leaning against the table surface which is mounted on and between the frame 17. In the substantially verticalposition of the table as illustrtaed in Fig. 2 of the drawings,

it will be evident that if the table was raised too high A (such as the position shown in dotted lines) it would be top-heavy which could cause injury to the patient and damage to the table. It is to avoid this possibility that I have designed the automatically operable means which causes a lowering of the table during the tilting operation provided the table is at too high an elevated position.

Secured to the underside of the longitudinal bars 22 are short longitudinal bars 41. These bars 41, together with the longitudinal bars 22, are fixed with respect to the table frame 17. The table tilting mechanism is connected to these short longitudinal bars 41.

A yoke 43 having upstanding arms 46 is rigidly secured to the plunger or piston 16 which operates within the housing 12 to raise and lower the table. Pivot bars or links 48 are pivoted at 51 to the outer sides of the arms 46 of the yoke 43. The upper ends of the pivot bars 48 are pivoted to the short longitudinal bars 41 at 53 adjacent the forward edge of the table.

Rigidly secured to the upper ends of the arms 46 of the yoke 43 are a pair of bars 56. These bars 56 extend angularly with respect to the arms 46 of the yoke 43 and slidably receive a drain in the manner as disclosed in detail in my aforementioned pending application Serial No. 383,518. A pair of pivot bars or links 58 are pivoted to the fixed bars 56 at 61 and pivoted tothe short longitudinal bars 41 at 63.

Secured to the inner side edges of the pivot bars 58 are shields 66 which extend downward on the inside of the pivot links 48 and between these links and the rigid bars 56.

The table includes a Bucky assembly of the type and mounting illustrated in my pending application Serial No. 383,518, and I have designated this Bucky assembly in its entirety by the numeral 68. The shifting mechanism of the disclosed Bucky assembly may be the same as that shown in the aforementioned application Serial No. 383,518 and includes operating means designated generally by the numerals 71 and 73.

Enclosed within the housing 12 and driven by the electric motor 11 is an oil pump which through suitable controls supplies oil under pressure to the cylinder in which the piston 16 operates, and to a tilt cylinder generally indicated by the numeral 15. The hydraulic controls comprise a table tilting pedal 76, a horizontal table positioning pedal 78, a table raising or up pedal 81, and a table lowering or down pedal 83. Certain parts of the mechanism within the housing 12 and certain of the hydraulic controls, together with the mechanism operated thereby, may be similar to that shown in application Serial No. 331,771 filed January 19, 1953, now Patent No. 2,764,459.

A flexible connection 86 extending from the hydraulic 2,aas, 172

unit contains two flexible conduits which extend to a branch fitting (not shown) which provides conduits one of which, 87 connects with one end of the tilt cylinder 15 and the other (not shown) connects with the other end of the cylinder. The hydraulic connections to the tilt cylinder may be the same as in my co-pending application Serial No. 383,518.

The upper end of the tilt cylinder 15 is carried by a U cross bar 88 which is pivoted with respect to the fixed bars 56. 'A piston rod 91 extends from the upper end of the cylinder and is rigidly connected to the piston (not shown) located within the hydraulic cylinder 15. A

cross bar 93 is pivotally connected at 96 to the short longitudinal bars 41. The outer end of the piston rod 91 is enlarged and bifurcated to straddle the bar 93 as illustrated in my co-pending application Serial No. 383,518.

With the table in horizontal position as illustrated in 1 Fig. land it is desired to shift the tableto the position illustrated in Fig. 2 forthe purpose of making X-rays' with the patient in substantially an erect posture to show the location of the kidneys or ureters, the urologist first extends the slide bars 24 to their outermost position and er'ects the foot and leg 'rest assembly 31. With the patients feet resting on the foot rest 33 and his back and shoulders reclining on the table, the urologist depresses the tilt pedal 76 to supply oil under pressure to the con-' nection 87 and permits discharge of 'oil from the upper end of the cylinder.

During the raising of the table the action of the various parts is substantially the same as in my co-pending application Serial No. 383,518. Thus, the pivot points 53 and 63 swing upward and the pivot points 63 move 7, around the pivot points 53. This is evident from a comparison of Figs. 1 and 2. V The raising action during the tilting of the table raises the foot and leg rest assembly 31 so that the table may be swung to the position shown in Fig. 2 without the foot and leg rest assembly striking the ,fioor. Thus it is unnecessary when the table is in lowered position to raise the table prior to tilting it.

As I have mentioned above one of the major objects of my invention involves automatically operable means for lowering the centerof gravity of the table during the tilting operation if the table is in too high an elevated position when the tilting operation is initiated.

The hydraulic system which is under the control of the operator of the table may be similar to that disclosed in my application Serial No. 331,771, now Patent No.

. 2,764,459, and for the most part is enclosed within the yoke and thus raise and lower the entire table unit.

- displacement gear pump. The housing 12 is supported operation of the table and the switch assembly including on a base 103 in which a sump or reservoir 105 is provided. A connection 107 extends into the sump and has a filter 109 mounted on the lower end thereof, the connection or pipe 107 conveying oil to the suction (not shown) of the pump 101 when the pump is operating to create asuction in the pipe.

The pump 101 discharges into a high pressure hose 111 which extends into a rigidly secured fitting 113 adapted to receiving tubing 116. The tubing 116 is adapted to carry oil under high pressure from the pump to a valve block 118 formed in a valve block casting 121. The valve block 118 constitutes a part of a switch assembly designated generally by the numeral 123 which functions to control the hydraulic systems for causing the the hydraulic controls and their operation may be generally the same as disclosed in detail in my application I PatehtNo; 215 5459. The foot pedals76, 8, 81, and 83 extend into a controll ous1hgf127prdvided 'with as vey p ate 112 9: The

i .V 4 l for ea'clii'fopfpe al'tofwhic "tlielother'onlower '1' seamen; It'will st ng end "of the 'spriiig is lifted in any sui' b e understood that these springs restore 'h'if hbrmarpbsitien when "of pressure is released. S'uit le" hearing are provided in the "va1v'eblock'castiiig' 121 for the frecept ionbf a" shaft 136 The inner 'rid of the 'foot'pedal" 81'is pinned to the shaft while the inner end of foot pedal 83 is loose on the As in y a qtement pn d etem. N Z 74t459 I vide a mercury switch "138whicl'i is 'te'd on apiyoted ef'141I"'- By the means sho'w n n "my Paitenf No. 2 514.45?

ec'tiedjit the cradle so that the mercury switch will be o inecl and flclosed by" actuation o f"tlielse three pedals. ""ijlhdrheititijry switch 138 is in 'circ'u'it iwith ir'notor ll so that the mercury switch when t'il't'ed will' cau .3919 it art and hydraulic fluiduiid'er pressurl supplied ttfohe side-or the otherofltlie-tilt cylin r'to the hydraulic cylinder 16 dependent uponwliich of the three foot pedals 76, 78 or 81 is depressed. When the depressed foot pedal is released, the corresponding spring 133 restores the foot pedal to normal position, the mercury switch is shifted to open position and the motor is de-energized.

I provide a casting 143 having a passage 146 therein which connects with a passage 148 formed in a part integral with the stationary piston 98. I also provide a high pressure fluid line or tube 151 which connects with the switch assembly or valve block and carries fluid under pressure to a passage 153 which is in communication with passage 146. The casting 143 has a seat 156 upon which a check valve 158 seats. A passage 161 is provided in the casting 143 which connects to a point above check valve 158 and communicates with a passage 163 which connects with a port 166. A valve 168 actuated by a valve stem 171 opens and closes communication between the passage 163 and the port 166 for a purpose which will later appear.

Referring particularly to Fig. 4 of the drawings wherein I have illustrated the mounting and operating connections of the foot pedal 83 which is the pedal loosely mounted on shaft 136 and the pedal which controls the lowering of the table I have provided a pin 173 carried on a boss on the inner end of the foot pedal 83. The pin 173 engages a depending finger 175 of a rocking lever 177 which is pivoted at 179 on a part of the valve block casting so that upon movement of the pedal 83 the lever 177 will be caused to rock. One end of the lever 177 extends through a slot 131 in the casing to provide a projecting portion 183 which engages the upper end of the valve stem 171.

'thef foot p als the pedals 76, 78"and8'1 arepperativelycoh- I provide a cable or like operating means 185 which in the hydraulifcylinder16 .to escape through the 'port' 161;passage 163jand port166back tokthe sump or'res'erveil-"105. *.The"release'of'pres sur inthefl'iydraulic cylinderperrn'its the' wei'ghtof the table. to force the oil out ofthe'hydraulic cylintlei 16 to allow the table to descend. "As I"have'"stated"one"of the'impo'rtan't aspects of my inv"ntionrsidesin'th'provision of means to cause automane-loweringofthe table 'ifiit its at .too great an elevated position"jwheh it is'ibeing. tilted to assume a substantially"vertic'al po'sitionflinorderthat when so tilted it" willnot hemp-heavy. :This automatic lowering oper-.

ation is"produced"by=the' c'ablei 185" and the, apparatus which is operated thereby under certain predetermined crdnditiorls seuvh- .l. hc l :r, t .t

"Whefri' the table is in its lowermost position as disclosed in full lines "in Fig? 1; it will be evident that there .is consi derable'slack in"the"cable 1851i Theieissufficient slack i" "such "position bfthe table that it may be fully elevated to the'aottedlihehorizomal position and while the cable. will become somewhatiiengthenedgifiwill not pull nd cause'ro'c'kin 'ofthe lever l7f7tiifiowever, :if the piston ran '91 isprojected tetilt th'e t'able'wheh the table is in a fully or almost fully raised horizontal position, the table asit'is'tiltedpntheilinkage systemwi'll be'ilowered bodily.

The upward or "tilting movement of the table will pull thereof and'erisuri'ng tha'tg in'substantiallyvertical position;

the assembly will not be top-heavy.

It is to be understood that when the table is lowered sufliciently to eliminate its top heaviness the pull on the cable will be released and pedal 83 will return to normal position under action of its spring 133 whereupon valve 168 will be closed and the cylinder 16 and table will stop their descent. It is to be understood that whileI have illustrated a cable for causing the automatic lowering of the table under certain conditions I may employ other suitable means.

It will now be understood that with the table in its lowermost position or partly elevated position, the cable release serves no function and the table will be tilted and raised bodily so that the foot rest will not strike the floor.

However, if the table when in a horizontal position is at any position of elevation such that if tilted, it will be top-heavy, then the cable will function'to lower the piston 16 during the tilting operation.

While I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, it will be apparent that various changes may be made, particularly in the form and relation of parts, without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A medical examination unit comprising, in combination, a table, hydraulic means for raising and lowering the table and supporting the table in a horizontal position, means for tilting the table longitudinally when it is in a horizontal position and means interacting with said tilting means for modifying the tilting action to raise the table bodily as it is being tilted out of said horizontal position, and further means automatically causing a lowering of thetable when it is raised bodily in the tilting action to a predetermined elevated position. 2. A medical examination unitin accordance with claim 1 wherein said further means is inoperative when the table is lowered below said predetermined elevated position, whereby the descent of the table is stopped.

3. A medical examination unit comprising in combina tion, a table, hydraulic means for raising and lowering the table and supporting the table in a horizontal position, means for tilting the table longitudinally when it is in a horizontal position and further means automatically causing a lowering of the table when it is tilted and is raised to a predetermined elevated position. 4. A medical examination table comprising, in combination, a table, hydraulic means including controls therefor enabling the hydraulic raising and lowering of the table and the independent hydraulic tilting of the table about a horizontal transverse axis means for raising the table independently of said hydraulic table raising means when the tilt control is actuated to tilt the table and further means connected to said table and said table lowering control and operable to actuate said table ,lowering'control to cause a lowering of the table when the table is raised upon actuation of said tilt control to a predetermined elevated position.

5. A medical examination table in accordance with claim 4, wherein said further means is inoperative when the table is lowered below said predetermined elevated position, whereby the descent of the table is stopped.

6. A medical examination table in accordance with claim 4, wherein said table lowering control is operator depressed for causing the lowering of the table and said further means is connected to said pedal for its depression thereby to automatically cause a lowering of the table. a a

7. A medical examination table in accordance with claim 4 wherein said further means is a flexible member.

8. A medical examination table in accordance with claim 4, wherein said further means is a cable of a length producing slack therein when the table is in a position below the predetermined elevation, and is taut and pulled upward when the table is at or above said predetermined elevation.

9. A medical'examination table comprising, in combination, a table, hydraulic means including independent controls for the hydraulic raising and lowering of the table, and further controls for the independent hydraulic tilting of the table about a horizontal transverse axis, means for raising the table independently of said hydraulic table raising means when the tilt controlis actuated to tilt the table, and said table lowering control including a pedal adapted to be depressed-by the operator of the table, a rocking lever operatively connected to said pedal, a valve controlling the flow of fluid in said hydraulic means to permit lowering of the table when said valve is open and said valve being engaged and opened by said lever when *it'is rocked upon depressing said pedal to permit lowering of the table, a cable fixed at one end to said lever and at its other end to the table and operable when said table is raised upon actuation of said tilt control to a predetermined elevated position, to depress said pedal and to rocksaidlever to thereby open the valve.

10. A medical examination table in accordance with claim 9, wherein said cable is of a length producing slack therein when said table is belowsaid predetermined elevated position and is taut and is exerting a rocking pull on said lever whenthe table is at or above said predetermined elevated position.

11. A medical examination in accordance with claim 9 wherein further means is provided for restoring said pedal and lever to normal position and closing the valve when the table is below the predetermined elevated position.

ReferencesCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS,

743,508 Hornung Nov. 10, 1903 2,172,941 Manning et a1 Sept. 12, 1939 2,217,783 Bell Oct. 15, 1940 2,222,888 Haupt Nov. 26, 1940 2,520,455 Clachko Aug. 29, 1950 2,534,623 Pitts Dec. 19, 1950 2,573,563 Gardiner Oct. 30, 1951 2,636,348 Murry Apr. 28, 1953 2,764,459

McDonald Sept. 26, 1956 

